So, it arrived on Wednesday evening and I took off on it on Thursday morning. The wind was off the hill, the rain was in the distance, but I had to fly it. I'm happy to say.. It didn't kill me :-)

I admit that it was hardly booming ripping thermals, more smooth ridge soaring with the odd lifty bit, but it flew and stayed flying! The bits look thinner and harder to understand... I've no idea how the speed system engages itself, but it did and I flew quicker :-)

So far, I'm a happy bunny......... oh dear.......... now I have to fly it into a thermal :-(

Anticip......................ation

Anticipation......... as the clouds of Volcanic Ash settle, I find my glider is stuck in Vietnam April 19th or Bangkok on April 21st or God knows where now on April 25th. I've planned my diary to complete all work obligations, I've bought no more properties (just finished renovating one) Now the summer is here but my wing isn't AARRGGHHHH!!!
The comp season has begun and I've not flown at all yet this year!! Hopefully, the wing should arrive during this next week and I can get on and learn it a little

Preparation is key

Now that the dust of the 2009 Paragliding Competition season has settled, I find myself ranked 62nd in the World and in the British top four.

This means that I qualify for the British Team and am off to the European Championships in Austria from 22nd May to 5th June.

Racing across the high Alps in pursuit of both personal and Team podium places.

Ofcourse 150 pilots from over 25 European countries will be thinking the same thing!

The final day of the Europeans will find me racing by car to Slovenia for the start of the British Championships 6-12 June. I came 2nd in 2009, so only need one place to become British champion!!

These last few weeks have seen our World governing body 'decide' not to govern us and allow a free for all with glider developement. So the mad dash to have the best wing, in the hope that it won't drop you out of the sky begins.

Ozone got the jump on the rest of the World with a radical new design that other manufacturers seemed keen to get banned (it was that good) Now the other companies are rushing to put something together in answer to the Ozone super ship!

With sweaty palms and nervous breath I'll be launching the latest Ozone R10.2 quite soon. Let's see if I can handle this two line beast. If it's too scary, I'll be 'cap in hand' full of apologies to the Axis importer hoping for an Axis Mercury 3 from their factory!! I will keep you posted.